KELSEYVILLE — The avian cholera duck die-off, which previously appeared to be winding down, is now in full swing once again.
According to the Department of Fish and Game, 754 ducks were recovered Wednesday bringing the total amount of dead ruddy ducks to 6,675.
“It all depends on the weather,” said Lynette Shimek of the DFG. “The colder the weather, the more likely that total will increase even more.”
According to Shimek, the tendency of ruddy ducks to raft, and congregate tightly for warmth when temperatures drop, makes the species a good carrier. Since the birds do not tend to approach the shoreline or interact with humans, prevailing winds determine where the dead birds end up after the virus takes effect as well.”
Avian cholera is not related to human cholera, and Associate Wildlife Biologist Paul Hofmann of DFG”s North Central Region said he knew of no cases in which a human contracted the disease from a bird.
Avian cholera affects birds so quickly that they have been known to die in mid-flight or while resting on the water”s surface, according to the National Wildlife Health Center. It is caused primarily by Type 1 of the bacterium Pasteurea multocida, and spreads most rapidly when birds concentrate in one area.
Shimek also added that fog has prevented Fish and Game from quickly retrieving the dead birds. The longer they stay on the water, she noted, the greater the chance more birds will get sick.
Contact Rene Morales at rmorales@record-bee.com.
